NCJW DALLAS ADVOCATES: YOU DID IT!
September 1 ushered in not only the Labor Day weekend, but also over 700 new Texas laws. During the 88th legislative session and together with NCJW Texas, we’ve voiced our support for women’s access to basic health care and abortion services, public education for all, and freedom of religion. We lobbied for equal representation at the ballot, gun safety laws and more.
While fully acknowledging the laws representing a step back for Texans, we’d love to highlight OUR WINS:
- Health care coverage for a year for pregnant moms on Medicaid;
- Zero sales tax on: diapers (including adult); feminine hygiene products; maternity clothing; breast pumps; pumping bras, storage bags and containers; baby bottles; and many pregnancy-related supplies.
- A year’s supply of contraception medication to be provided by health insurers that cover it;
- Protections for pregnant and parenting college students and eight weeks of paid parental leave for state employees;
- No public funding for private schools (although the school voucher discussion may be revived in the next months);
- Easier vote-by-mail process (a legal challenge to SB 1 and the constitutionality of the signature requirement for mail ballots is now pending).
FURTHER READING:
TAMPON TAX: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2023/08/06/tampon-tax-states-map-texas/70519524007/
HEALTH BILLS: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/08/texas-legislature-health-bills/
SCHOOL CHOICE: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/11/texas-house-committee-report-school-vouchers/
TEXAS LEGISLATURE 88: ISSUE AREAS
What is our focus during the 2023 Texas legislative session?